Mile Jedinak and Jack Grealish have trained this week and could come into Bruce’s thinking.

Grealish, 22, played his second comeback game in the under-23s’ 3-2 defeat to Reading on Monday and is desperate to feature at St Andrew’s.

Andre Green (hamstring) remains on the sidelines after surgery last month.

Our prediction

Bruce may have only been planning to leave young attacker Keinan Davis on the bench for one game but, such was replacement Josh Onomah’s brilliance against Fulham, the manager is struggling to restore him to the XI.

Elsewhere, Villa are expected to remain exactly the same. With Jedinak expected to come back into contention soon, summer recruit Glenn Whelan will have a fight on his hands to retain his spot in Villa’s midfield.

The bench

Competition for places on Villa's bench will be fierce over the next few months with several stars returning from injury.

Jedinak isn't the type of player Bruce will look to bring off the bench but Grealish will have eyes on replacing one of his fellow fringe players.

Youngster Callum O'Hare and Iceland international Birkir Bjarnason would appear to be most at risk if Bruce does elect to recall Grealish to his squad.